In Catbalogan City
CATBALOGAN CITY- The United States has extended assistance to the marine research and preservation program of this city government by sending a Peace Corps volunteer.
This was disclosed by City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan who said that the assigned Peace Corp volunteer will boost their campaign.
“The city government of Catbalogan is grateful to US Peace Corps for extending (a helping hands) to us to fill in the spaces and needs of our city especially through technical and technological (support),” the city mayor said.
The Peace Corp volunteer, Melissa Gonzales who is a marine biologist, arrived in Catbalogan last month and will stay for two years.
Gonzales’ assignment requires her to work within the context of the Philippine National Strategy of Integrated Coastal Management which aims for the sustainable development of coastal areas and for the improvement of the quality of life of coastal populations.
Catbalogan sea waters cover Maqueda Bay which is rich on marine resources but its volume is fast dwindling due to unsafe fishing activities by the local fishermen.
Coastal resource management is one of the five programs offers by the Peace Corps in their two-year program that integrate American citizens to share their expertise with the community they chose to serve with.
Gonzales is expected to provide technical assistance like capacity building, institutional strengthening, policy development, marine protection, alliance building, environmental education, community organization and sustainable financing mechanisms.
The US Peace Corps is a volunteer program providing technical assistance, helping people of other countries to understand American culture, and in return, help the Americans understand the cultures of other countries.
Their work is generally related to social and economic development where they will work abroad for a period of two years after three months of training.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
